Acupuncture treatments for fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) are becoming much more common, either alone or as a complementary therapy.
Chinese acupuncture dates back thousands of years as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) but only caught the attention of the American public in the 1970s. The National Institutes of Health formally recognized acupuncture as part of mainstream medicine in 1997, saying the procedure is safe and effective at treating a wide range of conditions, including fibromyalgia.
Acupuncture Studies
In the West, acupuncture has been studied more for FMS than ME/CFS, but many doctors, acupuncturists and people with ME/CFS say they've had success with it. Several Chinese studies have shown it's effective for ME/CFS. Your specific Western diagnosis likely won't be important to an acupuncturist, who uses different terminology to diagnose and treat you.
As acupuncture has moved more into the mainstream, many insurance companies have added it to their policies, and some doctor's offices and clinics have begun to offer it at their facilities. Make sure you know the details of your insurance policy before assuming it will cover acupuncture treatments.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
While multiple studies have shown that acupuncture does have the effects taught by TCM, researchers can't pinpoint exactly why it has the effects. Research suggests that it may produce complex changes in the brain and body, possibly by stimulating nerve fibers that then send signals to the brain and spinal cord to release certain hormones that block pain and makes you feel better. A study using images of the brain showed that acupuncture raises your pain threshold -- which is low in people with FMS and ME/CFS -- and therefore gives you long-term pain relief. One British experiment using magnetoencephalography (MEG) brain scans showed that acupuncture actually can deactivate part of your brain's pain matrix.
According to TCM, acupuncture works by correcting energy pathways through your body. This life-force energy is called qi or chi (pronounced "chee"). Qi flows through meridians in the body, each of which corresponds to an organ or group of organs. If you have too much, too little, or blocked qi, TCM teaches that it will create health problems.
If this is hard to understand, picture a stream. If something blocks the flow of water, pressure builds up behind the blockage and water can go spilling out over the banks. Too much water can lead to floods, while too little water can kill off plants and animals that live there. The purpose of acupuncture is to keep the stream flowing free and at desired amounts.
Benefits vs. Risks of Acupuncture
When you consider treatment options for FMS and ME/CFS, or any health condition for that matter, it's important to weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks.
According to experts, both Eastern and Western, the potential benefits of acupuncture include:
Less pain
Better sleep
Relaxation
Possible immune system boost
Better overall health
Research released in 2008 showed that after 20 acupuncture treatments, people with FMS had significant improvements in pain and quality of life that lasted for 3 months after treatment was stopped, with a gradual decline in those areas until all benefit was gone after 2 years.
Acupuncture can be much safer than other therapies, especially if you're combining several different treatments. Benefits as a complementary therapy include:
No negative interactions with other treatments, including drugs
Extremely mild side effects
Low risk
Possible risks of acupuncture are extremely rare, especially with a licensed acupuncturist. Risks include:
Infection from non-sterile needles
Organ puncture (very rare occurrence)
Nausea
Dizziness & fainting
Bruising
Licensed practitioners in the United States are required to use sterile needles and dispose of them after each use, but this is not required in all parts of the world.
An Acupuncture Exam for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
When you go to an acupuncturist, he/she will likely take your pulse at several points along both wrists. Don't be surprised when you're asked to stick out your tongue; in TCM, the tongue's shape, color and coating are important diagnostic tools. (Tip: When you brush your teeth that day, skip the tongue so you don't disturb the coating.)
The needles only go in about a centimeter. After inserting them, the acupuncturist will twist or gently wiggle them to get them firmly into the proper point. You might get a muscle twitch or brief ache, or you might feel nothing at all. Once all the needles are in (the amount used varies), you'll stay in place and rest for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. You'll probably be extremely relaxed and could even fall asleep. Afterward, the acupuncturist will pluck out the needles, which doesn't hurt at all.
A few hours after your first treatment, you could feel some aches around your body. This is normal, and practitioners say it's a sign that the treatment is working. The aches don't typically last long, and over-the-counter pain relievers will help. It's common to sleep more deeply than usual that night, which is a definite bonus for anyone with FMS and ME/CFS.
Finding an Acupuncturist for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Your doctor or clinic may be able to refer you to a qualified acupuncturist, and you can also check with your insurance company to see if it has a list of practitioners that participate in your health plan. Most states require acupuncturists to be licensed, so look for the title "LAc."
More details, e-mail to Bamboowisdom@gmail.com
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